Lupus is a devastating autoimmune disease that fools both patients and doctors. Unlike the harmless pranks played on people during April Fool's Day, lupus can have serious consequences. Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, strikes without warning, and has no known cause and no known cure. 6 years is the average time from the onset of symptoms to obtaining a diagnosis of lupus $21,000 is the average annual financial impact of lupus, per person 65% people list chronic pain as the most difficult aspect of lupus Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs). "Chronic" means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with the immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune systems produce proteins called "antibodies" which protect the body from these invaders. "Autoimmunity" means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self"). As a result, it creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. group 5 Million people around the world are affected by the disease. medical-clipboard 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported each year. Additional facts about lupus that you should know: Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone. Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above. #lupus #lupusawareness #lupusproblems #lupusflare #lupusrash #lupusfacts #LupusAlertDay https://www.instagram.com/p/BvtTPiogXO-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1u4y7suop5h6q
